When is a ceasefire no longer a ceasefire? That seems to be the question hanging over the island nation of Sri Lanka this week as both sides in the bloody dispute that has split the country for over two decades recommitted to the 2002 truce on Tuesday.

Despite the pledges from the Sri Lankan government, predominantly Sinhalese Buddhists, and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which is dedicated to the creation of a homeland for Sri Lanka's Hindu minority, to refrain from killing each other violence is quickly spiralling out of control. On Saturday, five Tamil villagers in the seaside hamlet of Pesalai were killed -- allegedly by government troops. Earlier that same day, Tamil rebels attacked a Sri Lankan navy base resulting in the deaths of six soldiers and between 25 and 30 guerrilla fighters.

Last Thursday, however, saw the worst of the recent violence when 64 people lost their lives after two landmines exploded next to a bus in Kabithigollewa in north-western Sri Lanka. The government responded with air raids against the rebel positions. The bus bombing was the bloodiest single act of violence since the 2002 ceasefire went into effect and added to the 700 people -- more than half civilians -- who have died in fighting since April according to the ceasefire monitoring mission from Nordic nations.

LTTE refused to take responsibility for the Thursday explosions and blamed rival rebel groups instead -- but facts point to a decreased interest of Guerilla chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in settling the conflict politically, despite Tuesday's recommitment announcement. According to experts, the LTTE controls 12 to 14 per cent of Sri Lanka and would prefer consolidating their power there to making a deal with the government.

Additionally, observers say the growing marginalization of the rebel group encourages the escalation of violence. On May 29, the European Union added the LTTE to their list of terror organizations and froze Tamil Tiger accounts. Jehan Perera, Director of Colombo's National Peace Council said, "If the rebels continue to be isolated economically and politically, they will only have one option left in the end: war."

Since last summer, it has become apparent that the rebels are trying to provoke an intensification of the conflict. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was shot dead by snipers in August 2005. And during the last round of peace talks in Oslo, the representatives of LTTE were not even willing to speak with government emissaries. Over 65,000 people have lost their lives in the 23-year-old conflict.